I've been working on another story, of late, so haven't been able to cover the precinct place mess in Garland County, AR which emerged over the weekend. (What's the matter with Arkansas when it comes to elections?! See my exclusive on Monroe County from late last week, for just one possible answer, in case you're wondering). Also, I was happy to see the issue getting plenty of coverage from sites like DailyKos and MoveOn, etc., so didn't feel I was either needed, or had anything additional to add at the moment.

But, as the bizarre decision/behavior by the Garland County Election Commissioner Charles Tapp could come into play tomorrow, depending on the reported results of the hotly contested Democratic U.S. Senate primary run-off election between incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter --- and as so many have written in to make sure I knew about the situation (I do) --- it seems worth at least flagging here for now at The BRAD BLOG, to make sure that you know about it.

For that, allow me to defer to Joyce McCloy's Voting News coverage of the coverage today...

Garland County Arkansas voters were turned away from the polls Saturday. With only 2 polling places instead of the usual 40, with 76,000 registered voters, a hotly contested primary runoff & other races, officials promised to open an extra polling place on Saturday. The polling place was not opened & voters were turned away...

“We certainly are concerned that Garland County, which has over 80,000 Arkansas citizens and had approximately 40 polling sites for the primary, has now been reduced down to two polling sites,” Halter told reporters today during a campaign stop in Little Rock’s River Market district.

Garland County was the most populous county Halter won on May 18. He received 44 percent of the county’s vote to Lincoln’s 40 percent.

“After Garland County, Arkansas closed 40 of its 42 polling places for today’s runoff election, voters who wanted to vote early were turned away all week. Now, on Election Day, the full extent of the county’s boneheaded decision to make it more difficult for residents to vote is coming to bear. Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times reports:

“The mess that Garland County Election Commission made has come to full flower. A voting rights activists reports long lines and parking problems at the two — count ‘em, two — polling places that the Commission decided to open for runoff voting. It closed 40 other polls to save money despite the fact that every voter in the county, where some 12,000 voted in the first primary, has three statewide races to consider.”

The use of the word "boneheaded" is far too charitable given the fact that Garland County went to Halter by 4% in the recent primary.

The broader problem that arises from this latest example of blatant voter suppression is that local election officials have far too much discretion and power. Time and again, whether it be the selection of unverifiable electronic DREs or the eleventh hour closure of 40 of 42 polling stations, local officials have demonstrated that they cannot be entrusted with the keys to our democracy.

One wonders why Halter did not seek an immediate injunction to prevent the closure of those 40 polls the moment Charles Tapp made an announcement that would amount to forcing the some citizens of Garland County to drive more than 20 miles to cast their votes.

Do the voters of Garland County have any recourse here??? Some court will have to see the injustice that has been done. Motions will be filed or something legalese that I wouldn't be able to put a name on, right? Right??